Chapter 21
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
ELODIE
Sitting in the chair across from the unoccupied desk, I try not to panic. I shouldn’t be panicking. Just because I slept with Wrath doesn’t mean I have any need to panic. Except my heart doesn’t realize that. It wants him right next to me. It wants to fall in love with him.
It wants to keep him.
The door to the office opens, interrupting my thoughts of wanting to keep Wrath to myself.
In my daydreams, he’s this loyal, rough-and-tumble guy who only wants me, who never looks at anyone else and certainly never touches anyone else.
I’m the only woman in his life. We get married, make babies, and live happily ever after.
A fantasy, that’s what it is, and I need to forget all about it, because no man who is part of the Iron Flame Motorcycle Club is going to live that kind of life. They’re men who live on the fringes, the outskirts, in the underbelly. They’re scary, and it would do me good to remember that.
Even if, when he kisses me, touches me, is inside me, I forget to be scared of him.
I need to remind myself that Wrath is scary. Really freaking scary. And as he walks into this office, Dare at his back, I remember it… clearly. Their physical presence takes up all the space and air in the office. They command this room, and I’m reminded of just how intimidating they are.
I’m not sure where they’re headed, but I'm surprised when each of them leans their ass against the front edge of the desk and crosses their arms over their chests, tipping their chins down as they stare straight across to us.
Alex doesn’t say anything, but I can feel his anxiousness next to me, or maybe it’s my own I’m sensing, I’m not quite sure. But now I’m starting to feel really nervous about this, and I don’t know why.
But what if I didn’t take enough pictures?
Or what if they were of the wrong things?
I don’t know what exactly I’m getting myself into here, and I don’t want to screw up and mess this up.
I like Wrath, and I want him to like me.
I want him to be proud of me. How fucked up is that?
I want him to be proud of me for helping him do… likely illegal shit.
“Tell us everything about that event center,” Dare demands.
“And pictures,” Wrath adds.
Unlocking my phone, I find my picture icon and touch it, scrolling through and finding the first picture I took last night.
Extending my arm, I hold out the phone for Wrath to take.
He slips the device from my fingers, making sure to glide his own over mine, which sends goose bumps sliding over every ounce of my flesh.
I want those fingers on my body again… immediately, if not sooner.
His lips twitch into a smirk, his gaze never leaving mine, and I know he can read my expression, my wants, my desires. I should be embarrassed, and I probably will be later, but right now, I want him too badly to care.
“I didn’t take any pictures,” Alex announces before he continues, “but the layout wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. Big room, big kitchen, a couple of smaller rooms, bathrooms, and a storage closet. Do I even want to know why you need this?”
My eyes widen, and my head swings to the side, staring at his profile and willing him to shut up. But he doesn’t. He continues speaking, and all I want to do is tackle him and cover his mouth with my hands. I’d probably need both because apparently, he’s got a big-ass mouth.
“No, you don’t, and we won’t be telling you,” Wrath states without even looking up from my phone.
I watch as his thumb glides across the screen, checking each picture.
He stops here and there, using his index finger and thumb to zoom in on an image, then switches to the next one.
I have no idea what he’s looking for, but I find myself completely and totally focused on him, that is, until Dare clears his throat.
Shifting my attention over to Dare, I tilt my head back slightly so I can look up at his face.
His lips are twitching, and I swear his eyes sparkle a little as he watches me.
He watches me for only a few seconds before he pushes off the desk and walks over to a window.
Alex and I watch him. I’m wondering what in the actual hell is going on here.
“We appreciate you helping us out with this, and Wrath has your two grand in cash to give to you. We also appreciate your confidentiality in this matter.”
He turns his head, then shifts his body so he’s facing us again. I can’t look away from him. He’s the president of the club, at least that’s what the patch on his leather vest indicates.
There’s a lot going on with their vests, including a badass motorcycle on the back with the flames coming out of the back wheel like it’s burning out or something.
Everything on the vest is patches that are sewn on.
They’re actually pretty nice, and I’m surprised.
For a badass biker gang, they seriously care about their vests and patches.
Wrath pushes off the desk, causing my attention to shift from Dare to him, and he reaches out, handing my phone back to me.
“I went ahead and forwarded what I needed to my phone. ’Preciate your help in all of this,” he says.
It feels like a business transaction and nothing like our time in his bedroom, which leaves me feeling beyond confused. Taking the phone back, I place it between my legs and try to keep from bursting into tears. I have never had so many emotions in such a short period of time in my entire life.
My teeth find the skin on the inside of my cheek again. It’s already tender from me anxiously biting it until it bled earlier, but I do it again. I’m not sure what to do here, what to say. So, instead of doing anything, I stand.
Wrath reaches behind him and picks up an envelope. He thrusts it forward, and I wrap my fingers around the edge. My eyes lift to meet his, searching for a sign of something… anything remotely near want, desire… but there’s nothing.
“Thanks,” I exhale. “We’ll be back on Monday to clean.”
Wrath jerks his chin slightly, his gaze never leaving mine. “Thanks, babe. See you soon.”
What an asshole. But that’s not what I’m really mad at. He never claimed to be or want anything from me other than what we could give one another in bed. But my foolish heart wants more, so much damn more.